bales



March 20, 1956 Filed Sept. 11, 1951 M. G. BALES 2,739,195

IGNITION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS *20 (7 6- Max Bales M. G. BALES IGNITION APPARATUS March 20, 1956 2"Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1951 INVENTORS Max 5. Bales IGNITION APPARATUS Max G. Bales, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1951, Serial No. 245,990 8 Claims. (Cl. 200-19) The present invention relates to distributor equipment and is particularly directed to the provision of improved mounting of the circuit breaker mounting plate.

An object of the present invention is to provide means by which the circuit breaker mounting plate for the circuit breaker of the distributor may be mounted for oscillatory movement to permit of accurately advancing and retarding of the ignition of internal combustion engines without plate wobble, plate jamming or horizontal misalignment and minimum friction. This object is accomplished by a housing member and a circuit breaker mounting plate member positioned within the housing on a plurality of bearings and immovably positioned within the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of anti-friction bearing members for supporting the circuit breaker mounting plate. This is accomplished by bearing members immovably retained in a fixed position by the housing and adapted to be engaged by ears associated with the circuit breaker mounting plate.

In carrying out the above objects it is a further object to provide relative curvatures between the shoes and the bearing member by which the shoes may be controlled to yield to provide point contact, or line contact, or full surface contact to control shifting due to wear and reduce turning friction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved distributor assembly comprising two members rotatable with respect to one another which members consist of a distributor housing and a circuit breaker plate mounted therein and adapted to be oscillated by an engine controlling vacuum control, one of said members having a plurality of antifriction bearing elements attached thereto and the other of said members including a bearing groove adapted to at least partially fit around said bearing elements whereby the breaker plate is freely rotatable with respect to the housing without wobble or binding.

In carrying out the above object it is a further object, in some cases, to position the bearing elements on the distributor body wall and to form the groove in a plurality of spaced ears or shoes carried by the breaker plate.

A still further object is to provide at least one spring shoe to permit easy assembly and to provide stop means effective when the assembly is complete to prevent accidental displacement of the plate. In carrying out the above object the stop means may take the form of' a member removably carried by the circuit breaker plate or the stop means may be a shoulder in the distributor body member.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an ignition timer with the distributor cap removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' United States Patent Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the bearing member.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slightly modified form of bearing structure of a bearing and mounting member shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 8 showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing another modification of the invention using metallic anti-friction on an enlarged scale,

bearing staked to the housing.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing still another modification of our invention.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modification in the mounting plate for the bearing member shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on line 18-18 of Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings, a timer housing 20 is counterbored at its open end to provide a cylindrical wall 21 and a shoulder 22. The cylindrical wall 21 is provided with circumferentially spaced radial openings 23, 24 and 25, in the form of an isosceles triangle, the angle between center of the openings 24 and 25 being substantially 130 and the angle between opening 24 and opening 25 being It is to be understood that the angles specified could be changed so to form a triangle with unequal or equal sides. The housing rotatably supports an engine driven shaft 26 in the conventional manner and drives a timer cam 27 having lobes 28. The lobes of the cam engage a rubbing block 29 carried by a lever 30 pivoted on a post 31 attached to a circuit breaker mounting plate 32. Adjustably mounted on the plate 32 is a bracket 33 pivotally movable about the pivot post 31 through the agency of an eccentric screw 34 having a head disposed in a slot 36 of the bracket 33. The bracket is held in adjusted position about the post by a clamping screw 37 passing through arcuate slot and threaded in the plate 32. The plate 32 is centrally apertured at 38 to allow the passage of the cam 27.

The lever 30 is insulated from the post 31 by an insulating bushing 39. The lever 30 carries a contact 41 for cooperation with a fixed contact 42 on the bracket 33, the rubbing block 29 cooperating with the lobes 28 of cam 27 for actuating the lever 30. A leaf spring 43 attached to the lever 30 urges the lever 30, as viewed in Fig. 1, in a counterclockwise direction to cause the contacts 41, 42 to be normally engaged and to resist separation of the contacts when the lobes 28 of the cam engage the rubbing block 29. A screw 45 secures a bracket 46 attached to a case 47 of a condenser to the plate 32. One foil of the condenser is grounded on the case and the other foil is connected by a wire 48 with the fixed end of the leaf spring 43. A wire 49 has one end connected to the spring 43 and has the other end connected to a terminal 50 insulatingly supported from the housing 20.

The circuit breaker mounting plate 32 is supported for rotation coaxially with the axis of the cam 27 by three Patented Mar. 20, 1956 'antifriction material bearings 55 which are not deleteriously efiected by oil or engine operating temperatures. This material embraces a wide range of conventional e ringzmateria s. for example variousrbronzes, porous metals such as; bronze with or withoutgraphite;leaded r ezes, ir .irensl a onopp r pp e l t or the members maybe'formedi fromsujitableplastics. such as; Bakelite (phenol formaldehyde condensation products) Bakelite with graphite, othenphenolic'resins; molded nylon or anyother thermosetting or ,thermoplastic-,materialshaving thesamegeneral characteristics of suitability. In other words, we do not wish to belimitedtoany one class of materials since;;any I satisfactory .antifriction compositionwill: provide; equivalent results.

The platej32 showniniEigshlandl isrprovided with two relatively rigid ears.or;shoes ;56:and.57 integralzwith the plate 3.2 and a relativelyxthin resilient ear-orshoe. 58 attached to the plate 32 by a tubular rivet 59. Referring to Fig.3, the resilient shoe;58 has a base 6tl provided with a notch 61 which straddles ,a boss.l62 extended fromthe 1 normal plane of the.,plate132. The-rivet59 and the boss 62 fixes the location-f :the shoe 158 with respect to the plate 32. It is pointed outthatwhilethe shoes. 56 and 57 are integralwiththeplate 32 as shown, in Fig. 2, they may be attached to the plate by rivets or spot welding for example. Sincethe shoesSfi, :57. and the resilient car 58 are of similar configuration only: the resilient earwhich is thinner, will be referred tohere in describing. further detail construction of the ears. Each ear comprises segmental upwardly arcuately bent portion63 terminating in fiat angle flanges .64 forresting on the upper surface of-bearing member 55.

The bearingmembers SS are in this instance preferably molded in segmental form as shown in Figs. 1 through 5. Each bearing member 55 has an inner-concave-convex portion 65 concentric with the axis' of the shaft 26. The

.bearing members are also provided with plain convex portion 66 for bearingagainst'the cylindrical wall 21 of the housing andeachbearing has a'depending lug -67 for bearing againstithesu'rfaceil below the opening to prevent the-bearing-member from tilting relative to the surface 21. The plane convex portion of each hearing has a cylindrical-portion or shank '68 to fit into one of the openings. The openings'23, 24 and in this instance are counterbored to provide shoulders 69. The shanks 68 are-provided with'a recess to provide thin wall portions'68 the outer peripheries of-which wall are provided with spaced bosses 70. Thus, when theshank 68 of the bearing-' is forced intothe opening the thin'wall portion 68' will contact: slightlyto permitthe bosses 70'to be forced into the openings. After the bosses 70 pass the shoulder69 the thin wall willtend'to expand toward its normal statewith the bosses 70 projecting-behind the shoulders 69 to hold securely the shanks6 8 in the opening in the'housing, and'cause. the--near plain concave surfaces to bear against the surface 21- ofthe housing '20.

The procedure of assembling the plate 32 within the housing with the three bearings =in place is as follows: The plate :32 is-moved axially to cause the'resilient ear to be'sprung inwardly until the flanges 64 of the respective shoes engage the upper surfaces of their respective bearing meniber 'SS. The flzmges64-are prevented from passing below the upper surfaces of the bearing member dueto the fact that theperiphery of'theplate 32 will 7 engage the shoulder 22 of the housing before the edges of the fianges 64 pass the shoulder-of the-convex-su'rfaces 55 of the bearing members 55. After'the -insertion'of the plate between the bearin'g members the resistance of themetal of which theshOe SS-ismade holds the plate in positions!) that a-minimum amount-of horizontalpiay exists, .thus the plate 62 is properly supported for oscil latory movement when-sameisnuoved by a -suction'deice '71. While the bearing surfaces present very smooth gglnygx nrfaceszandrwhichare-eontaoted by the shoes of th b e r, pl te s .,2,-r:thei.fric tional --resi n w en" h cars and bearing members can be further reduced by greasing the bearing surfaces. By greasing the surfaces there is substantially no interferences with the oscillatory movement of the plate 32.

It will be noted that the spring shoe 58 is located substantially 180 from the location of the cam operating force of the circuit breaker. This is important in order to prevent the plate 32 from tilting when the cam lobes 28 engage the rubbing block 29. The resilient shoe 58 prevents the reaction of the cam 27 upon the rubbing blockl'i when the block 2? strikes the lobes 28 of the cam. The force is such that the plate 32 has the tendency .to rock on the bearings 55 and lift the shoes from'their bearings. This is prevented by the tension of the resilient shoe 58. The tension of the shoe 58 is suflicient to remain in contact with its bearing, thus rocking of the plate is prevented and the angularity of the plate relative to thecarn is maintained.

A suction device 71 is provided to eifect ignition: rim: ing in accordance with the load of the engine. {The suction device 71 for ro-tatably adjusting the plate -32;to advance or retard the ignition forms no part of the present invention, however there is shown a suction device; co mprising shells '72. and 73 which are secured at theirperipheries with theperipheral edge of the diaphragm 75 therebetween. ,The central portion of the diaphragm is connected with one end of a link or arm 76 which operates through a slot in the wall 21 of the housing 20. The

other end of the link is pivotally connected with the tubular V through therap and has threadedengagement With-the tubular bushingg59.

Figs. 6, 7 and Sshow modiiied formsof themounting circuit breaker plate and the anti-friction bearings. The'parts of'the modified forms have been given the same nurnbers e the numbers of the first, formbut with the sufiices a, bf? o, and 9d. By'this similarityofthe, parts of themodiiied forms, the part ofthefirstform will be apparent. Therefore no description will be'given to similarity of construction. The following .ditference the bearing members in constructionof the plate 32 arm is now set forth.

inFig. 8, the;second modified forrnof the invention, thecircuitbreaker plate 3212 has separately applied shoes 56:; ,and;57 a attached to the plate 32a by tworivetsfil) only;.one of WhlCh iS shown. The resilicntshoe;58a.;is fixedgto the plate32 by tubular rivet 59a. ThejhQfis have agbase 65%;? provided with a notch 61a which straddlesa bosstSZaon the plate By thisarrangemcnt the shoe 53a is prevented from turning on the plate 32a. in this modified r'orrn of the invention it ispointeld out that each shoe has an arcuate upwardly bent portion terminating in a doubly curved portion SlandportionS2 to provide grooves to partially ;receive;an arcuate conical head 55a made of an antifriction material and each hearing has a straight shank-oha .Which is fitted into one of the openings provided in the cylindrical wall 21 of the housing In this construction the portions 81 and 32 respectively have line contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the conical head.

The'line contact .of the portion 82. is clearly shown in tag. 9. Fig.

i.-. this instance the shoes are spherical in shape, see K ll so as to make point contact with the bearing. esired the shank may be provided-with a slot Ed /hitch will-contract as the shank is urged into the opening and then tend to expand toward its normal state-to grip the wall of the opening to securely -holdthe shank 63a in said opening.

Fig. 12 shows a third modified form-of the invention. :in this instance the circuit breaker mounting 32b has a pair of integral shoes and 57b, only-the shoe 56b is. shown. The resilient shoe 5% is attached to the plate 3212 by a tubular rivet 59b. The resilient shoe 5311 has a base 63b provided with a notch 61!: which straddles a boss 62b on th: plate 32!) which prevents the resilient shoe from turning relative to the plate 32b. In this third form of the invention each shoe 56b, 57b and resilient shoe 5812 has an upwardly bent portion terminating in a doubly curved portion 85 to provide shallow grooves to receive partially a conical head 55b of an antifriction bearing 55!). Each bearing has a shank 631) which is fitted in an opening provided by the cylindrical wall 21 of the housing 2%.

When the plate 32b is assembled within the housing 20 with the bearing member 5512 in place, the plate is moved axially to cause the resilient cars of shoe 58b to be sprung inwardiy until the grooves 36 snap over the heads 5515. After the plate is so positioned the link is connected with the rivet and held in position by a stop member 88. The stop member is attached to the rivet by a screw 37 having threaded engagement with the tubular rivet 5915. It is pointed out that the stop member is placed adjacent the resilient ear 55% to prevent accidental displacement of the plate 321").

Fig. 13 shows a fourth modified form of the invention wherein antifriction metallic bearings are used instead of bearings made of molded plastic. It is pointed out that either form of circuit breaker plate heretofore described may be used with the metallic bearings so long as the bearing heads are formed to fit the respective grooves in the arms. In the form shown in Fig. 13 the shoes or cars 56c and 570 are integrally formed with the plate 320. The resilient car 580 is attached to the plate 320 by a tubular rivet 59c and held against turning by providing the base with a notch 610 which straddles the boss 62c. In using the bearing members the shank 680 is staked to the housing wall 21 as indicated at 90.

Fig. shows a fourth modified form of the invention. In this instance the circuit breaker plate is provided with integral ears 56d and 57d and a resilient ear 58d. These ears are much wider than the bearing members and each ear has an upwardly bent portion terminating in an angular curved portion to provide elongated grooves to receive spherical heads 55d of antifriction bearing material and each bearing has a shank to fit in a respective opening in the housing wall of the housing.

Fig. 17 is a view showing a doubly curved type of curvature which may be formed on the shoes and the bearings whereby the shoes will smoothly and freely slide over the bearing members. For example Fig. 17 illustrates how the shoes 56, 57 and 58 associated with the plate 32 could have its upwardly bent portion, which forms the shoes, terminate in a doubly curved arcuate groove whose curvature is the same as the inner arcuate surface of the bearing so that the grooves of the shoe will have full surface engagement with the bearing as shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 18 shows a construction of a bearing having two radial shanks for fitting engagement with a pair of openings formed in the cylindrical wall 20 of the housing.

While the embodiments of the present invention constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A distributor comprising in combination, two members rotatable relative to one another consisting of a body and a breaker plate positioned therein, a plurality of stationary molded nylon antifriction bearings disposed between said members and fixedly assembled to one of said members, and a grooved bearing surface adapted to slide on said bearings, said surface being carried by the other of said members, whereby the breaker plate is rotatable relative to the body on said bearings.

2. A distributor comprising in combination, a housing having a generally circular inner wall; a plurality of stationary circumferentially spaced antifriction bearing elements fixedly assembled in spaced apertures through the housing and extending inw; 'dly from said wall of said housing; a circuit breaker plate mounted within the housing; a plurality of spaced ears associated with the plate said ears having an overall diameter less than the inner diameter of said housing, each of said ears having a groove formed to at least partially fit around and slide on the elements whereby the plate is freely rotatable with respect to the housing without wobble.

3. A distributor in accordance with claim 2 wherein the antifriction bearings are metallic.

4. A distributor in accordance with claim 2 wherein the antifriction bearings are non-metallic.

5. A distributor comprising in combination; a housing having a generally circular inner wall; a plurality of stationary circumferentially spaced elongated antifriction bearing elements having a curvature similar to the curvature of said housing wall fixedly assembled thereto and extending inwardly therefrom; a circuit breaker plate mounted within the housing; a plurality of spaced ears associated with the plate, each of said ears having a groove formed to at least partially fit around and slide on its respective element whereby the plate is freely rotatable with respect to the housing without wobble the outer diameter of said ears being less than the inner diameter of said housing.

6. A distributor comprising, a housing having a cylindrical inner Wall; a plurality of circumferentially spaced, non-metallic anti-friction bearing members anchored to said wall, said bearing members having inner convex bearing surfaces coaxial with the axis of the inner wall of the housing; a circuit breaker mounting plate located within the housing; a pluraiity of shoes equal in number to the bearing members and associated with said plate, said shoes being shaped to provide upwardly converging portions to engage the lower side of the convex surfaces of the bearing members to resist upward axial movement of the plate relative to the housing and having integral angle portions extending outwardly from the ends of the converging portion to slide on the top of the bearing to support the plate at right angles to the axis of the housing at least one of the shoes being resilient to provide for facile rotation of the plate relative to the housing and also to prevent wobbling of plate.

7. A distributor comprising in combination, a housing; a plurality of spaced molded nylon bearing elements, each of said elements having extension means thereon fitting in an opening in said housing to form an anchor for said element; a circuit breaker plate mounted in said housing; a plurality of spaced ears carried by said plate, each of said ears having a groove to receive one of the elements and slide along said element whereby the plate is freely rotatable with respect to said housing.

8. A distributor comprising in combination, a housing, a plurality of stationary circumferentially spaced molded nylon bearing elements fixedly assembled in spaced apertures through said housing, a circuit breaker plate mounted within said housing, a plurality of spaced ears associated with the plate, each of said ears having a groove formed to at least partially fit around and slide on the elements whereby the plate is freely rotatable with respect to the housing without wobble.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,075,904 Lang Apr. 6, 1937 2,125,368 Arthur Aug. 2, 1938 2,246,086 Austin June 17, 1941 2,444,149 Aldridge June 29, 1948 2,489,775 Haubert Nov. 29, 1949 2,546,710 Aldridge Mar. 27, 1951 2,601,371 Cotchett et al. June 24, 1952 

